This fall was my first opportunity to join the Global Alliance for Animals and People (GAAP) on their Roatan, Honduras spay and neuter clinic. The experience as a whole was very cathartic and different from previous missions that I have been a part of.

The remote Mayan village of Todos Santos, Guatemala! 115 animals spayed and neutered 86 animals vaccinated 1 tumor removal procedure

After watching many excursions down to Roatan, to work with the Roatan Animal Welfare group, I decided to take the plunge. It was a busy 2 days filled with many cats and dogs. Some of the cats ranged from 8 weeks of age and up.

I can’t speak on the behalf of others but those are two feelings that I felt very deeply during my recent trip to Roatan, Honduras to volunteer with Roatan Animal Welfare (RAW). I can only imagine that not only the other volunteers, but also the pet owners of those animals we helped, felt the same way.

On October 9, 2021 a team from AVH set out on an adventure to Roatan, Honduras to take part on a spay/neuter clinic as a part of the GAAP. Dr. Lechten, Dr Manesis, Melissa, Natalie, Bex, Ryan and I took 3 flights to get to the island of Roatan. This was my first time travelling to Honduras and I don’t think I was fully prepared for the beauty that the island offered. Heat, sun, crystal clear water, tropical greenery and the friendliest people.

On March 10th Dr Lechten, Natalie, Melissa and Sarah will be making the long journey north to Peawanuck Ontario. Peawanuck is an isolated Cree community in the Kenora District, Ontario, Canada, about 35 km from the Winisk River's end in Hudson Bay.

On October 15th, Dr. Lechten, Dr. Murphy, Dr. Manesis, Natalie, Melissa, and Rhys made the journey to Roatan, Honduras. With an overnight layover in El Salvador, the team made it to Roatan, Honduras on Oct 16th.

On May 28th Dr. Lechten, Dr. Murphy, Natalie, Avery, and Melissa travelled to Roatan, Honduras. Travelling to these remote communities is always long and exhausting and this one was no different. With four flights and a layover for the night in Guatemala City, the team was ecstatic to finally land in Roatan.

A group from The Global Alliance for Animals and People recently travelled to The Animal House Shelter in Jamaica. The Animal House Shelter provides care and housing for stray dogs from across the island. At the time of our visit, there were 132 dogs in residence with 5 full time caretakers.

Our trip to Guatemala has come and gone. It was a very successful year. The group did 249 spays and neuters. Which is the most we have ever done! We also gave 613 rabies vaccines and 100 canine and feline distemper vaccines.

In early October, a group of Allandale staff travelled north to work with Northern Spay and Neuter to provide veterinary care to pets on two Reservations. Funding was provided by Dog Trust Worldwide, the Global Alliance for Animals and People, Allandale Veterinary Hospital, and Northern Spay and Neuter.

On September 19th, The GAAP Canada (Dr. Lechten, Natalie, and Melissa) along with Dr.’s Hauer and Poon joined The Northern Spay Neuter Program for two spay/neuter and vaccine clinics.

In April, we travelled to Todos Santos, Guatemala for the fourth time. Our group included myself, Natalie, Melissa, Shawnah, Josh, and two volunteers from outside the clinic, Drinda and Kris. Once we got to Todos Santos, we joined a group made up of volunteers from Guatemala, Chile, Germany, the United States, and Canada.

The first Canadian trip was underway in mid-November to Marten Falls First Nation, Ontario. Dr. Lechten and Dr. Hauer, along with Melissa and Natalie, flew up to the northern reservation (not accessible by road) of approximately 600 people.

Another visit to Todos Santos has come to an end. As usual, it was filled with highs and lows. There were lots of smiles and laughs, as well as some very emotional moments.Thursday and Friday were travel days. This year our group consisted of 7 people, including Rose, who was the client that won the opportunity to go with us. Thanks to everyone’s generosity we had 12 totes worth of supplies and presents.

Our time in Guatemala has again come to an end. The ending is always bittersweet as we are thrilled at what we accomplished, but sad to be leaving our new friends. The week was quite successful with over 80 spays and neuters performed and over 450 rabies vaccines given.